Drunken Man Causes 4-Car Crash With 12-Year-Old Girl In Car: SCPD

HAUPPAUGE, NY — A man was arrested early Black Friday for driving drunk under Leandra’s Law after he was involved in a four-car crash in Hauppauge with a 12-year-old girl in the car, the Suffolk County Police Department said.

Rafael Garcia-Erazo, 34, of Westbury, was driving a 2016 Nissan sedan westbound on Express Drive North, coming up to the intersection of Wheeler Road, when he rear-ended a 2014 Volkswagen sedan that was stopped at a red light at 1:04 a.m., police said. The impact caused the Volkswagen to hit the back of a 2012 Ford that was stopped ahead of it, which then caused the Ford to crash into the back of a 2006 Nissan, police said.

Garcia-Erazo's female 34-year-old cousin, who also lives in Westbury, and the child were his passengers at the time of the crash, though no one was injured, police said.

Garcia-Erazo was charged with DWI, aggravated DWI with a child passenger 15 years old or younger (Leandra's Law) and endangering the welfare of a child. The car was impounded for evidence.

Garcia-Erazo was held overnight at the Fourth Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip later Friday.